If there was one musical instrument that crossed the borders like no other and remains relevant to date, it is the Oud (pronounced /u:d/).

Though bearing a similar name to a perfume, Oud (Arabic word for “wood”) is a popular lute-like, pear-shaped, fretless chordophone (belonging to the family of string instruments). The Ethnic Musical described it as a combination of the Barbat and the Barbiton, an Ancient Greek instrument.

Historically, the mythology surrounding the Oud goes way back to around 900 AD. It is about an Arabian scientist named Abu Nasr who had a then-unpopular musical instrument called the Oud. One day, while Abu slept in his home in Damascus, Syria, mice bore holes in his Oud as they ate where he placed it leaning on the wall. On waking up to the chewing noise, Abu became despondent at the damage the mice had made. But when he played the musical instrument, it made a better sound than when it had no holes. Abu Nasr was excited and began to spread his findings to family and friends. This new development earned the Arabian scientist the name Al Farabi (meaning: fathered by mice). Though the European-origin lute also has holes, with the above myth, Abu Nasr earned the title of the grandfather and originator of the Oud.

The Oud is carved out from light woods such as mahogany, walnut, maple, boxwood, and timber. Traditionally, its strings were from dried animal intestines, and in recent times, nylon strings -- regular and rectified.

There are three broad categories of the Oud - Persian Oud (also known as Barbat), Arabic Oud, and Turkish or Greek Oud (called Outi in Greece). In addition to the location difference, these three categories are unique based on size, neck, and sound.

The Outi, usually made from timber, has a shorter neck and is of smaller size. It produces a pitch higher than other Ouds. This class of oud has 11 strings with five double courses. The original Barbat is extinct, but the modern one is carved from a single piece of wood. Also, the modern Barbat, made from maplewood or walnut, has a longer neck, small body, slightly raised fingerboard, and a unique sound different from the typical oud. It has ten strings with five double-courses. Meanwhile, the Arabic Oud has 11 strings, sometimes 13, grouped in 5 or 6 courses, with the last odd one as the bass string.

The Arabic Oud category spans the Arab world. Here, the type of oud takes on the country name with minimal differences in other factors. The Oud is called the Kwitra, the Andalusian Oud, or Algerian lute in Algeria. In Morocco, it’s called Moroccan Oud; in Egypt, it is the Egyptian Oud; in Syria, it's the Syrian Oud; and in Iraq, it's the Iraq Oud.

The Egyptian Oud, made from spruce wood, is a large-bellied, short, curved neck chordophone played with a pick or plectrum. It has 12 strings, i.e. six double strings played over the left key. The Egyptian Oud is said to be the most romantic one because of its warm, heavy, and deep timbre. Meanwhile, the Algerian Oud is similar but has a carved soundhole in the belly.

Some notable Oud masters are Moroccan Driss el Maloumi, Egyptian Farid El Atrache and Hamza El Din, Algerian Alla, Tunisian Anouar Brahem and Necati Çelik, and many others.

Oud (Arabic word for “wood”) is a popular lute-like, pear-shaped, fretless chordophone (belonging to the family of string instruments).

The Oud Journey Across Borders

Related Blogs